Matthew 21:28-32

Matthew 21:28-32

“And what do you think by you all?  A man was having two children.  And after approaching the first he said, ‘Child, go today and work in the vineyard.’  And the one who answered said, ‘I do not desire,’ and later after his mind being changed, he went.  And after approaching the other he said similarly.  And the one who answered said, ‘I will, Lord,’ and he did not go.  Who out of the two did the will of the Father?”  They say, “The first.”  Jesus says to them, “Amen, I say to you all that the tax collectors and prostitutes go before you all into the kingdom of God.  For John came to you all in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him.  But the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him.  And even after you all saw, you did not change your mind later to believe him.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Let’s make sure that we don’t lose the context of this passage.  Yesterday we saw that the religious elite came to challenge Jesus.  Matthew doesn’t tell us that the conversation in over.  Jesus is still talking to the religious elite in this parable.  Jesus is still addressing the chief priests and the elders of the people!  Jesus is talking to the people that most people in Israel would have said were the safest to be saved!  That is the audience and subject of this parable.

Why is it significant to remember that Jesus is addressing the religious elite here?  What does this say about Jesus’ desire to speak God’s truth remembering that in the passage yesterday He didn’t feel the need to defend Himself and assert His authority?

Second Thought:

As we look at this parable, let’s also remember something about the children of the parable.  Neither child is perfect.  One child is disobedient in person by submitted in action.  The other child is obedient in person but disobedient in action.  Clearly, the first child is better than the second.  But the truth is that neither child is perfect.  Neither child gets it totally right.  Human beings are full of mistakes.  We can’t be perfect.  But what we can do is realize that when we make a mistake we can try to do right anyways.  That’s what the first child gets right.

Do you ever try and be perfect?  Why is that an impossible dream?  What should you focus on rather than perfection?

Third Thought:

There is a reason Jesus speaks this parable to the religious leaders.  They had an opportunity to do right when John came in righteousness.  But they did not.  When they saw that people were having their lives changed, they had every opportunity to recognize that God was at work through John – even if his message was delivered differently than they would have preferred.  But they didn’t.  People were repenting and turning to God.  People were coming to know the Father.  That should have been significant and important.  But it wasn’t significant or important to them.  In the end, they reject God’s work.  They say that they are interested in God.  They say that they are interested in doing His will.  But in the end they just aren’t.  They are like the second child.  Their actions never come around, even if their lips speak pleasant words.  It is sad when people reject God’s hand at work just because it is different than they would desire it to be.

Have you ever rejected someone genuinely proclaiming God’s message?  Have you rejected genuine ministry just because it was different than you anticipated?  Why?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 21:33-41

Matthew 21:23-27

Matthew 21:23-27

And after he came into the temple, the chief priest and elders of the people came to Him while he was teaching, saying, “In what authority do you do these things?  And who gave you this authority?”  And after answering Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one word, which if you speak to me I will also tell you in what authority I do these things.  From where was the baptism of John?  Out of heaven or out of mankind?”  And they were reasoning in themselves while saying, “If we say ‘Out of heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Therefore, for what reason did you not believe by him?’  And if we say, ‘Out of mankind,’ we are afraid of the crowd.  For all have John as a prophet.”  And after answering they said to Jesus, “We have not known.”  He also was saying to them, “Neither will I say in what authority I do these things.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Here is an interesting point.  The chief priests and the elders of the people don’t argue that Jesus has authority.  They’ve seen what He’s done.  They’ve seen the effects of His work.  He has authority.  They don’t argue that point.  What is important in this passage is not that they are denying Jesus’ authority; rather what is important is that they do not recognize the source of the authority.  They don’t recognize that Jesus’ authority comes from the Father.  They just don’t see the Father working through Jesus when they look at Him.  It’s sad that they missed the power of God.

Have you ever been in a position where you missed God at work because your perspective wasn’t right?  Why might a person be in that position?  Have you ever had someone miss what God was doing through you?  How does that feel?

Second Thought:

The chief priests and the elders expose their humanity in this passage.  There is a reason they don’t recognize God at work in Jesus.  They care too much about their station in life!  If they were interested in God’s power, they would have been humbled and submitted to John the Baptizer.  They didn’t want to give up their station as religious elite, so they didn’t listen to John.  They also are afraid of the crowd.  If the crowd should turn against them, they will no longer be the social elite, either.  Why do the religious leaders in Jesus’ day miss God’s hand at work?  They miss it because they care more about their station in life than submitting to God.

How important is your station in life?  Are you willing to give it up in submission to God?  In the end, what will truly last: your position in this world or your position with God?

Third Thought:

Jesus’ conclusion to this passage is commonly held as shrewd.  But I don’t think we truly understand its application in life.  We think that Jesus’ answer is shrewd because clearly the chief priests and the elders aren’t interested in truth and submitting to God’s power.  If they aren’t willing to submit, then they won’t genuinely hear Jesus’ answer, either.  So why answer them?  That’s why Jesus is shrewd.  But the application of this truth is lost on us.  We don’t often give ourselves permission to simply not defend ourselves when confronted with an opponent who is predisposed to not even being willing to listen.  We think we have to stand up for God.  We think we have to put our head on the chopping block.  We think we have to go down swinging.  But that’s not what we see Jesus do here.  Jesus knows the chief priests and the elders will crucify Him.  But He doesn’t go down swinging.  He saves the argument.  He saves His energy for the people who are actually open to listening to Him.  This is an example that I know I need to get better at imitating.

How often do you find yourself in pointless arguments with people who aren’t even open to listening to your answer?  Why is it best to save our energy for those who are open to listening and change?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 21:28-32

Matthew 21:18-22

Matthew 21:18-22

And early in the morning while returning into the city He became hungry.  And after seeing a single fig tree upon the road He went upon it and found nothing in it except only leaves.  And He says to it, “Fruit should no longer come out of you into this age.”  And immediately the fig tree was becoming withered out.  And after the disciples saw they were amazed while saying, “How did the fig tree immediately become dried up?”  And after answering Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you all, if you all should have faith and not judge based on rational thought, you all will not only do the thing of the fig tree but you all should even say to this mountain, ‘Be carried away and be thrown into the sea,’ and it will become.  And all that you all should ask for in prayer while believing, you all will receive.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

There is an interesting horticultural note in this story.  We know the time of the year that this passage occurs.  Jesus is in Jerusalem for the Passover, which means that this story happens somewhere in late March or April.  We know that fig trees in the land of Israel bear two crops, and they often are in leaf and fig at the same time.  One crop is born on old wood and called the paggim.  This crop buds in April, but doesn’t come in leaf and fruit until June.  After this crop the tree puts forth new wood and bears a second crop on the new wood sometime around September.  Thus, we have two things going on here.  First of all, Jesus doesn’t find any of these paggim – buds of new fruit – when he looks for them.  So He doesn’t find what He should find for a tree in leaf.  It is alive but bearing no fruit.  Jesus curses the tree, reminding us that the spiritual follower of Jesus is always concerned about the process of bearing spiritual fruit in our lives.  However, there is a deeper meaning.  Notice that the tree is in full leaf in April.  The tree shouldn’t be in full leaf in April.  It should be in full leaf in June and in April it should be just starting the leaf/fruit process.  In other words, it is disobedient to the order of creation.  It is disobedient to being alive according to God’s creative process.  The tree is cursed because it is “doing its own thing its own way.”  Note that this disobedience is also likely why it does not bear any fruit.  All of the tree’s energy has gone into making it leafy and beautiful.  Thus it doesn’t have any left with which to actually produce any fruit.

Do you ever to desire to do things your own way rather than listening to God and His ways?  How does this usually work out for you?  Are you ever concerned about the fruit of your life?  What does your fruit look like?

Second Thought:

The disciples are amazed.  Again Jesus does something that gets their attention.  Notice that Jesus teaches them.  Jesus takes advantage of the opportunity and gives them a lesson in faith.  It is okay that we don’t always understand God’s work.  It is okay that we even express amazement at God’s work.  It is often in those moments that we find ourselves open to the teaching of God.

When are you most amazed at God’s work?  When are you most willing to be taught by God?  Are there any overlapping elements of these times in your life?

Third Thought:

I think this is my favorite way in all of the Gospels for Jesus’ expression in verse 22.  So often we hear this passage and others like this preached to us in such a way that “if you just believe hard enough God will grant your desires.”  Speakers and readers of this verse often try and make this into a mantra for getting their own way in a self-fulfilling prophecy sense of the word.  However, this isn’t at all what Jesus means.  In this verse, we have a participle form of the verb pisteuo (πιστεύω), which is associated with the noun pistis (πίστις).  Both the noun and the verb form of this word carry a dual meaning.  They can be translated as both “belief/faith” as well as “faithful.”  These words carry a sense of not just belief but also a response of obedience.  These are the words from which Dietrich Bonheoffer helped derive his great saying, “Only those who believe obey and only those who obey believe.”  Jesus says in verse 22 that we will receive anything for which we bray while believing (pisteuo).  In other words, if we are living an obedient life to God and desiring that which He has called us to believe then we will receive that which is in our heart.  And this really makes sense.  If God places a desire within us, why wouldn’t He grant us that desire?  Therefore, this is not a mantra for us to get whatever we desire.  This is a call to get our hearts right with God and then discern what God desires us to be about in our life.

How good are you at humbling yourself obediently before God before figuring out the desires of your heart?  Why is it better to submit to God before determining what I want in life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 21:23-27

Matthew 21:12-17

Matthew 21:12-17

And Jesus went into the temple and cast out all the ones who sell and buy in the temple.  And He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of the ones who sell doves.  And He says to them, “It has been written: My house will be called a house of prayer, but you all make it a den of robbers.”  And the blind and the lame drew near to Him in the temple and He healed them.  But after the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that He did and also the children who cried out in the temple while saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant and said to Him, “Do you hear what these ones say?”  And Jesus says to them, “Yes.  Did you never read that out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you caused praise to happen?”  And after leaving them He went away outside the city into Bethany and spent the night there.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I don’t know about you, but whenever I’ve imagined this passage or seen artistic renditions of this passage I always envision Jesus driving out everyone.  In my mind, I picture a “cleared” temple in the end.  But my perspective is not right.  Jesus doesn’t clear the temple.  Jesus simply drives out the people who are using the temple for profitable gain.  There are still people within the temple who need healed and Jesus heals them.  Jesus doesn’t get rid of everyone.  Jesus allows those who are there because they need God to remain.

Why is it neat to see Jesus keeping those around Him who need God?  What does this say about God’s ability to be around those whose lives are sinful and in need of help?  Do you need God?

Second Thought:

 Of course, we can also talk about the negative perspective of this passage.  Jesus drives out of the temple those who aren’t there to relate with God.  There were people who saw the temple as a place to make money.  There were those who used the religious institution to make profit for themselves.  Unfortunately I think that this is a dynamic all too prevalent in the modern Western church.  There is much disillusion in the general public about the church and its insufferable need to collect money from people.  Sure, some of that money does support helping others.  But much of the money collected is used for supporting its own existence.  Jesus drives out the people who are in the temple in order to support their own existence.   The church is a place to allow people to experience the presence of God, not a place to learn to support our own existence.

Have you ever felt like the religious institutions to which you’ve belonged are more about supporting themselves than putting people in a place where they can experience the presence of God?  If so, when and why do you feel this way?  How do you think Jesus would respond to such a system?

Third Thought:

Unfortunately, the priest and scribes are there watching.  They can’t stand to watch what Jesus is doing.  They can’t stand to watch their current system intact.  They can’t stand to watch people healed as they meet God.  They can’t stand to watch other people praising Jesus for God’s work through Him.  God is on display, and they get angry.  Unfortunately, this is always true.  Anytime we do something, we are just as likely to make some people happy about our action as well as make other people upset because we’ll change their perception of the status quo.  Even the act of putting God on display will cause division among the human population – as sad as that is to say.

Have you ever experienced a negative reaction when you were just trying to be obedient to God?  How does that make you feel?  Have you ever reacted poorly when someone else was just trying to put God on display?  How did that make you feel?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 21:18-22

Matthew 21:8-11

Matthew 21:8-11

And the great crowd spread their cloaks in the road.  And others cut of branches from trees and were spreading them in the road.  And the crowd that went ahead of Him and the one that followed cried out while saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David.  The one who comes in the name of the Lord is having been blessed.  Hosanna in the highest.”  And after He entered into Jerusalem, all of the city was being thrown into an uproar while saying, “Who is this?”  And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Let’s look at the crowd.   Yesterday we talked about the prophetic message from the Old Testament and how Zechariah reminds us that the king enters humbly.  Now put this in contrast to the behavior of the crowds.  So much for a humble entry into Jerusalem!  Jesus enters humbly, focused on God.  But the crowds turn it into a commission!  They stir up the whole city.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  I can understand their reaction.  Jesus – the great prophet and healer – has come to Jerusalem.  I’m sure many of them are thinking that this is where Jesus takes over as Messiah and kicks out the Romans.  But the point is, the crowds just don’t get Jesus.  They think that He is a prophet.  Jesus tries to enter into Jerusalem humbly and they miss the boat on that one, too.  The crowds don’t get Jesus.  They seldom ever took the time to listen to Him during His ministry, and when Jesus’ ministry is coming to a close they still aren’t listening to God.

Have you ever considered that the actions of the crowd might actually display their ignorance of Jesus?  How does this story actually show us how the world truly doesn’t understand a person’s desire to be humbly submitted to God?

Second Thought:

The result of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is that the whole city is stirred up.  I believe this electric atmosphere is the final element necessary for the crucifixion of Jesus to happen.  The city is in an uproar.  All the people are talking.  Jesus becomes the focal point, and this will naturally polarize Him in the eyes of the city.  Some will love Him.  Obviously His disciples and those who followed Him will fall into this category.  But human nature is such that just as many who love Jesus will hate Him.  There’ll be some who are envious of His popularity.  There’ll be some who are jealous of His status among the people.  There’ll be some who are convinced His teachings are wrong.  Either way, we know the end of the story.  This same city whose throng declares Jesus blessed at the beginning of the week will demand for His death at the end of the week.

Why does the reaction of the crowd as Jesus approaches Jerusalem make the events of the following week more likely to happen?  Have you ever been in Jesus’ place – trying to follow God and do what you were told – and the people around you didn’t understand?  How does that feel?

Third Thought:

I briefly mentioned this in the first thought, but I want to flesh out an idea more as we conclude the study on this passage.  Notice that when the throng stirred up the city, the main question people in the city asked was, “Who is this?”  The reality is that they didn’t know.  Oh, the crowd that had been following Jesus knew.  And I’m sure the religious elite knew.  But the general population of the town was clueless about Jesus.  I think this is a very prudent point.  It is so easy to go through life focused on whatever is before you that you miss the greater picture.  It is so easy to get wrapped up in our own little box of life that we miss the greater thing that God is trying to do.   It is so easy to focus on our daily to-do list that we don’t see a greater calling around us.  The city of Jerusalem is a perfect example of this in the life of Jesus.  Had Jesus not come to them, they would have completely missed the coming of their Messiah.

Have you ever been so busy that you missed God’s work around you?  Why are human beings subject to this error?  What can you do about it in life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 21:12-17

Matthew 21:1-7

Matthew 21:1-7

And when they drew near into Jerusalem and came into Bethphage into the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples while saying to them, “Go into the village before you.  And you will immediately find a donkey, having been tied and having a colt with her.  After untying, bring it to me.  And if anyone should speak anything to you all, say that their Lord has a need.  And immediately they will send them.”  And this has become in order that the words while being spoken through the prophet should be fulfilled: “Speak to the daughter of Zion.  Behold, your king comes to you submitted and having mounted a donkey.  And upon a colt, the son of a beast of burden.”  And after the disciples went and did just as Jesus ordered them, they led the donkey and the colt and placed cloaks upon them.  And He sat upon them.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus singles out two of His disciples to go and accomplish a task.  He doesn’t send all twelve.  He doesn’t necessarily pick out His favorites.  He doesn’t feel the need to treat them all the same.  Instead, Jesus simply picks two disciples and sends them out on a task.  In fact, we don’t even know which two according to the story given to us in Matthew.  What is important is the accomplishment of God’s plan, not who was selected to accomplish the task.

Do you ever jockey for attention from the people that are important to you?  Why?  Do you think it is neat that we aren’t even told who Jesus picked?  What does this teach us about action and the quest for glory?

Second Thought:

The disciples are obedient.  Jesus gives them instructions, and they follow them.  They go and do as they are told.  They don’t do their own thing.  They don’t add to Jesus’ plan.  They go and do as they are told so that God’s will can be done.

Do you ever try and add to God’s plan and improve upon God’s plan?  Why can that be harmful to faith?  Why is it important to see the disciples doing just as they are told in this passage?

Third Thought:

I think it is very important to not lose the message of the prophet in this passage, especially when we turn to the verses that follow tomorrow.  The prophet voice speaks about the king who comes to Jerusalem.  But you will notice that the king doesn’t come impressed with himself and showing off his glory – as most kings of the Gentiles would do.  Rather, the prophet tells us that the king comes submitted.  The Greek word here is one of my favorites: praus (πραΰς).  The king comes riding a beast of burden, not some great and impressive steed of conquest.  The focus of the prophetic voice is submission.  It is about giving an attitude that something else is more important than the person.  Of course, that something else is God.  The true king of Jerusalem comes in a humble and submitted approach in order to demonstrate his submission to the Father.  Whereas most kings and rulers of the world are impressed with themselves and seek to have others impressed with them also, the true king of Jerusalem will come submitted to God and in a humble stance.

Why is it important to understand that Jesus comes humble and submitted?  Why do you think this will be important, especially as we look forward to the passage tomorrow?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 21:8-11

Matthew 20:29-34

Matthew 20:29-34

And while they went out from Jericho, a great crowd followed Him.  And behold!  While two blind men were sitting beside the road after hearing that Jesus passes by, they cried out while saying, “Show mercy to us, Lord, Son of David!”  And the crowd rebuked them in order that they should be silent.  But they cried out to a greater degree while saying, “Show mercy upon us, Lord, Son of David.”  And after Jesus stood still, He summoned them and said, “What do you desire I should do for you?”  They say to Him, “Lord, in order that our eyes should be opened.”  And after Jesus felt deep compassion, He touched their eyes and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Let’s talk about these men.  They demonstrate an incredible faith here.  They are blind.  That makes them people on the fringe of society.  No doubt they were accused of having some horrible sin in their life because they’d been cursed with blindness.  When they call out to Jesus, the crowd rebukes them to shut them up.  Everything in society was working against them, but they cried out to a great degree.  They got Jesus’ attention.  They knew that the best thing in their life was upon them and they reached for it.  They couldn’t save themselves – or regain their eyesight themselves.  But they could reach out for God’s grace and seize it when it was offered.  That’s exactly what they do in this passage.  They reach out for God, knowing that He is already reaching out for us.  What a great example for us to follow!

Do you reach out for God?  Do you seize the grace that He is already extending?  Do you look for ways to get God’s attention and allow Him to work in your life?

Second Thought:

After Jesus stops, He works.  He doesn’t listen to the crowd, just like the blind men didn’t listen to the crowd, either.  He stops and asks the men what they want.  Notice that they appear a bit selfish in their request.  They want to see.  But Jesus doesn’t allow that to hinder His work.  He heals their eyesight.  He cures their blindness.  Had the crowd gotten their way, they would have missed the miracle.  But Jesus takes advantage of the opportunity and puts God’s grace on display.

When has Jesus answered prayer in your life?  Have you made requests that are a bit selfish but Jesus works in your life anyway?  What does this show us about the character of God?

Third Thought:

Now let’s return to the men.  Their eyesight is restored.  If we examine their response, we can see that they follow Jesus.  They get up from their mats and follow.  What a great ending to a great story.  They could have stayed in their hometown.  No doubt they could have stayed among the crowd and experienced their fifteen minutes of fame.  But instead they choose to follow Jesus.  They choose to let Jesus be the center of their life and let His work take precedence over their own reputation.  They are born followers.

Do you follow Jesus or do you get what you want and then look for the fame and the glory around you?  Are you willing to be a follower and let Jesus be the center of your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 21:1-6

Matthew 20:20-28

Matthew 20:20-28

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee drew near to Him with her sons while kneeling down and while asking something from Him.  And He said to her, “What do you desire?”  She says to Him, “Speak, in order that these my two sons should be placed one out of your right hand and one out of your left hand in your kingdom.  And after answering Jesus said, “You do not know what you ask.  Are you all powerful enough to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”  They say to Him, “We are powerful enough.”  He says to them, “In one case you will drink my cup; but in the other case to be placed out of my right hand and out of my left hand is not mine to give.  But rather it is for those whom it has been prepared by my Father.”  And after the ten heard, they became indignant regarding the two brothers.  And Jesus, who called them to Himself, said, “You all have known that the rulers of the Gentiles reign over them and the great exercise authority over them.  But it will not be this way in you all.  Rather, whoever in you all who should desire to become great will be your servant.   And whoever in you all who should desire to become first will be your slave.  In the same way the Son of man did not come to be served but to serve – and to give His life as a ransom for many.   

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

It is very poignant that this story comes in the context of the surrounding verses.  James and John – led very much by their mother – come before Jesus because they want to be great.  She wants them to be held in high esteem.  What mother doesn’t want the best experience for their offspring?  What mother hasn’t pushed the envelope for their kids?  It is a natural reaction, but it is a reaction Jesus corrects.  Jesus reminds them that greatness is defined by the Father alone.  It is up to the Father to know the hearts of men and judge them.  We might want the best, but in that is perhaps one of our greatest failings.  We need to learn to want what the Father wants for us.  What the Father desires for us is what is best for us.

Do you want to be the greatest and to be a success?  How can this be a good thing if not pushed too far?  Why is it better still to learn to want what the Father wants for you?  What does the Father want for you?  How can you know?

Second Thought:

When the ten hear what James and John did, they became indignant.  They became angry, probably out of jealousy.  Here we have one of the major downfalls of ultra-competitiveness.  When we become competitive it is easy to see the people around us as adversaries.  The ten were allowing themselves to become angry with Jesus’ own followers!  They were becoming angry with their own kind!  The children of God were fighting among themselves.  God’s children – a people who are only ever in that position because of grace – should not allow themselves to become angry at other children of God.  If we are in God, we should be able to settle our differences peaceably, much like Jesus does among them in this story.  We as human beings are quick to be angry – especially at those whom God has called into His family with us.

Have you ever been indignant towards another Christian?  Is this godly behavior?  Is this a godly response to Christ’s sacrifice for our sake?

Third Thought:

In order to make a point of all the mistakes made by all the disciples, Jesus reminds them about how He has lived His life.  James and John want to be great, so Jesus reminds them that the Son came to give up His life for other people.  The disciples become indignant towards James and John, so Jesus reminds them that the greatest people are those who become slaves and servants to others.  God’s love is about sacrificial compassion, not the power to command.  God has the power to command.  He could snap His fingers and everything would obey.  He could give the command and we’d all be condemned in our sin.  But God did not desire to exercise this kind of authority.  Rather than use the power He had, God sent His Son to die for our sake.  That’s what it means to be great.  We want to get angry and assert our power to get our way.  That’s not the model of Christ.  Jesus allowed Himself to die in the service of others.

Where do you fall on this spectrum?  Are you quick to assert your power and authority so that you can get your way?  Or are you quick to forfeit yourself to the call of God, whatever that might be?  Do you rule over other people or do you serve them?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 20:29-34

Matthew 20:17-19

Matthew 20:17-19

And while Jesus went up into Jerusalem He took the Twelve disciples to themselves and in the road He said to them, “Behold!  We are going up into Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes.  And they will condemn Him to death and they will hand Him over to the Gentiles in order to be mocked and flogged and crucified.  And He will be raised up on the third day.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I think it is interesting to note what isn’t here in this passage.  There is no note of the disciples’ reaction to the third time that Jesus tells them of His impending trial.  The first time Jesus said something, Peter and the other rebuked Jesus and denied it.  The second time Jesus said something about His trial the disciples were distressed but didn’t rebuke Jesus.  Now we have no note of the disciples’ reaction whatsoever.  Human beings tend to operate this way.  When things are far off we can react big and dramatic because they seem so incredulous.  But as things draw more and more near, they get more real.  We can see how it is becoming more and more likely.  Our reactions typically get more subdued.  In the case of bad things, we often become resigned and accepting.  We often say little, knowing our course and knowing that we’ll have to get through it.  This is largely how I see Jesus’ disciples reacting to this third message.  At first they were in disbelief.  Then they were distressed.  Now they have seen enough of Jesus’ interaction with the chief priest and scribes to see that Jesus might be telling the truth.  I still don’t think they are accepting the fate of Jesus, but I think they can see it as possible now.

Have you ever had this experience when big change has come along in your life?  Have you ever moved from non-acceptance to disbelief to resignation?  How does that feel?  How can God work through even those human emotions?

Second Thought:

I also think that it is neat to see that the Gospel message tells us that Jesus pulled the Twelve aside to themselves on the road.  Even as the death and resurrection draws near Jesus continues to have intimate moments with His disciples.  Even as the story draws to its climax Jesus understands the importance of preparing those who have been with Him through it all so that they will be able to pick up and carry the work when He is gone.  Jesus doesn’t teach this message to the crowd.  He teaches this to His core followers, who are most likely to be able to deal with what is about to happen.

Why would Jesus need to tell this message to just His closest followers at this point?  What could have happened had Jesus tried to teach this to everyone who followed Him regardless of how close they were to Him?

Third Thought:

I think there is something here to be said for Jesus’ obedience.  Jesus clearly knows what is going to happen to Him.  He knows the plan.  He knows the pain.  He knows the rejection.  He knows how difficult the next week is going to be in His life.  He gets it all – far more clearly than any of us can ever understand the future.  Yet Jesus was obedient.  He never strayed from the path.  In the face of incredible pain and persecution, Jesus walked ahead in the will of God and embraced it for our sake.  That’s obedience in its finest.

How is Jesus able to be so obedient?  What can this teach us about Jesus’ priorities?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 20:20-28

Matthew 20:9-16

Matthew 20:9-16

And after coming, the ones about the eleventh hour received a denarius apiece.  And after coming, the ones about the first hour reasoned that they will receive much more.  And they also received a denarius apiece.  And after receiving, they grumbled against the master of the house while saying, “These last ones worked one hour, and you made them equal to us, the ones who bore the burden of the day and the scorching heat.”  But the one who answered said to one of them, “Associate, I do not treat you unrighteously.  Did you not agree for a denarius by me?  Take your thing and go.  And I desire to give to this last one as also to you.  Is it not permitted for me to do what I desire in my own things?  Or are your eyes evil because I am generous?”  In this way the last will be first and the first last.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

These verses are hard for me to read because I love fairness.  I read this parable and I sympathize with the early workers.  They should be paid more, they did more work!  Or, at least that’s what I think.  That’s what we are all supposed to feel with respect to the parable.   This is why the parable is so powerful.  We are supposed to sympathize with the first workers and then realize Jesus’ point.  It is God’s kingdom.  The truth is that at the beginning of the day every one of these workers had no occupation.  They were simple idle workers standing in the square.  If they got what they deserve, they would have been left unhired and continued to be idle in the square.  Everything in the story is grace to these workers – including their opportunity to work.  They become entitled because they think they did more, forgetting that their opportunity was a gift in the first place.

Is it easy for you to sympathize with these workers?  Do you ever feel like you work and work at your faith and spirituality and don’t get the credit you deserve?  How do feelings like that really speak to your forgetfulness that your faith is a gift in the first place?

Second Thought:

I do think that it actually goes deeper than this.  Yes, the workers become entitled.  But they also become people that the master of the house doesn’t even want to be around anymore.  They are the first people to be welcomed into the vineyard.  But look at the master’s concluding words to these workers.  “Take what is yours and go.”  When the workers become bitter and entitled, they also become people that the master of the vineyard can’t use anymore.  He sends them on their way with their wage.  Entitlement is often the first step to being useless to God’s kingdom.  Everything we have is a gift.  When we take it for granted, what becomes of our testimony to His grace?

What is your testimony like?  Where are you in danger of being entitled?  Where are you in danger of being told, “Take what belongs to you and go?”

Third Thought:

But we’re still not done with these workers.  The master of the vineyard asks them a question as they leave.  “Are your eyes evil because I am generous?”  In other words, is their vision tainted because God demonstrates love to others?   This is a very significant question to ask ourselves.  Jealousy is a huge problem in most human beings.  Jealousy blinds us.  Jealousy even blinds us to what God is doing in our life and the lives of other people.  Often jealousy prevents us from seeing God’s hand at work because we want it to be at work the most in us!  This is a sad reality when it happens.  As human beings who are only in relationship with God through His grace anyways, we should by default celebrate when we hear that God has changed a life or been at work in the world.  But our eyes are often blind and where we should feel joy and hope we instead feel jealousy.

Where have you felt jealousy when you should have felt joy?  Why do you get this way?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 20:17-19

Matthew 20:1-8

Matthew 20:1-8

For the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a house, who went out at the same time as the morning to hire workers into his vineyard.  And after coming to an agreement with the workers of a denarius for a day he sent them into his vineyard.  And he went out around the third hour to see others having stood idly in the marketplace.  And he said to those ones, “Even you all, go away into the vineyard and what should be fair I will give to you all.”  And they went.  And again, after going out around the sixth and ninth hour he did similarly. And about the eleventh hour he went out to find others having stood there and said to them, “Why have you all stood here idly the whole day?”  They say to him, “Because nobody hired us.”  He says to them, “Even you all, go away into the vineyard.”  And after evening came, the lord of the vineyard says to his supervisors, “Call to the workers and give to them the wage after beginning from the last to the first.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The fact that this is a parable helps us understand something about the qualitative expectation of the kingdom.  The kingdom is like an owner of a vineyard.  It isn’t like the vineyard.  It isn’t like the workers.  The kingdom is like the master of the vineyard.  For what is the owner looking?  The owner is looking for people standing by doing nothing of importance but who are willing to do honest work with meaning behind it.  That’s the qualitative nature of this parable.  God’s kingdom is all about taking people whose lives aren’t particularly full of meaning and putting them into meaningful activity.  That’s the nature of relationship with God in a nutshell.  We can be all about ourselves in this life.  We can be full of serving our own agendas and fulfilling our own dreams.  But the kingdom of heaven is full of people who recognize that their life isn’t as full of meaning as others might think.  So they are found by the master of the vineyard who puts them to meaningful work in his vineyard.

Does your life have personal meaning?  Does your life have eternal meaning?  Have you been found by the kingdom and invited into meaningful activity?

Second Thought:

There is something worth noting about the timing of the story.  The parable is quick to point out that the master of the vineyard goes out in the morning, all throughout the day, and even in the hour just before the end of the work day.  So long as the work day is open, there is time to get involved in the work.  Even the people who are found so very close to the end of the day can come in and find something meaningful to do.  That’s the way it is with God’s kingdom.  There are those who will get into the work of the kingdom for most of their lives and do a good and full life of work.  There are others who might not get in until late in their life and only do a little work.  There are those who worked in the kingdom back in the days of Jesus when the kingdom was just being established.  There are those who will only get into the work of the kingdom just before the kingdom just before Christ returns.  The timing of the work is nowhere near as important as being involved in the first place.  What is of ultimate importance is that I come to an understanding of wanting to be involved in God’s work at all and receiving the invitation to be involved.

Are you involved in kingdom work?  What does it mean to you to be involved in the work of God’s vineyard?

Third Thought:

I find the reaction of the eleventh-hour workers very interesting.  “Because nobody hired us.”  Isn’t it interesting how some people will spend a whole day doing nothing simply because nobody told them what to do!  Clearly there was work in the area to be done.  I’m sure word had gotten out that the vineyard was hiring.  But in this response we can clearly see a major tendency in human beings.  We have a natural laziness about us.  Of course, each of us have areas where we are not lazy and areas where we are very lazy.  Many kids are not lazy with respect to going out and playing basketball in the front yard but they are very lazy about cleaning their room.  I’m lazy about dusting the house but not lazy at all about doing the laundry.  Every one of us has areas in our life where we know that there is something we could be doing but we just aren’t going to do it until someone comes along and tells us to do it.

Where are your areas where you know there is work to be done but you just aren’t willing to go out and do it without being told?  What can you do about those areas?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 20:9-16

Matthew 19:27-30

Matthew 19:27-30

Then after answering Peter said, “Behold!  We left everything and followed you.  What, therefore, will be for us?”  And Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you all that you all who followed me in the age of regeneration of the world, you all will also sit upon twelve thrones while judging the twelve tribes of Israel when the Son of Man should sit upon His throne of glory.  And everyone who left houses or brothers or sisters or fathers or mothers or children or fields for the sake of my name will receive a hundred fold and he will inherit life eternal.  But many first will be last and last will be first.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

As we look at this exchange between Peter and Jesus, we need to see it with open eyes.  On one level, Peter is simply asking about what will happen.  Jesus has just flipped their world upside down in making them understand that those who are rich and who seem blessed in this life have a difficult time finding salvation and eternal life.  So Peter is genuinely asking what happens to people like His disciples.  We’ll talk about that answer in the second point.  But Jesus also detects a possible self-centered problematic motivation for Peter’s question.  We’ll talk about this more deeply in the third point.  For now, though, we need to simply reflect on human motivation.  In God’s eyes, motivation is a huge part of the righteousness of an act.  Something with great results can be done in the world for the sake of Christ’s name and it can be a wonderful thing.  The same exact thing with the same exact outcome could instead be done for the sake of an individual’s glory and suddenly the act is nowhere as near righteous.  That doesn’t necessarily make the act evil or vile.  But we have to understand that when God is evaluating righteousness He is not often looking at results.  God is looking at motivation as well.  This is just like Peter’s question here.  If asked on one level, it is a great and honest question.  But if asked under other pretenses, it is a self-serving question that is only to seek self-glorification.  We must be careful to avoid self-glorification.

Do you ever do things for the praise or accolades?  Why?  When can it be hard for you to do things for God’s praise and not your own praise?

Second Thought:

Jesus honestly tells His disciples that anyone who makes sacrifices in this life for the sake of the kingdom of Christ – especially His name – will find reward by God.  The sacrifice will not be in vain.  It will not go unseen by God.  No person who imitates God by giving up that which they value for the sake of another person will be disappointed by God’s reward.  God’s economy is simply just that.  If we love God as He loved us and that leads us to sacrificial living, He will reward us!

Why is it important to remember that God sees our sacrifice and rewards our sacrifice?  How do we know that our genuine sacrifice brings God pleasure?

Third Thought:

On the other hand, Jesus also detect that Peter could be telling Jesus that they left everything because he wants to hear Jesus tell them that they will be the most important people in God’s kingdom.  Peter could be making the point about sacrifice so that he can receive the praise and accolades  and recognition now.  Peter might just be doing the sacrifice for his own pat on the back.  This is why Jesus reminds Peter that the first shall be last and the last shall be first.  If I do something in God’s name because I want the recognition, the act is not imitating God’s love.  God didn’t send His Son so that people would be impressed with God.  God sent His Son for our sake so we could know salvation.  Yes, He is praised and glorified by those who receive His salvation.  But His Son came so we could know God’s love and His salvation.  Our sacrifice should be focused on the other and their needs, not our own glory.  If we do good things but do it for our own praise, we will get our reward.  And while we will be looking to be first, we will find ourselves being least.

Why is motivation an important thing to remember when considering action?  How do you deflect praise and help refocus those who want to give you praise and glory for your sacrifice?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 20:1-8

Matthew 19:23-26

Matthew 19:23-26

And Jesus said to His disciples, “Amen, I say to you that with difficulty the rich will enter into the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say to you all, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than the rich to enter into the kingdom of God.”  After the disciples heard this they were greatly astounded while saying, “Then who is powerful enough to be saved?”  And after considering this Jesus said to them, “With mankind this is not powerful enough to be done.  But with God all things are powerful.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Notice the comment that Jesus gives us to lead off this passage.  He doesn’t outright deny that there will be any wealthy people in the kingdom.  He knows this not to be true.  Even our Bible has testimonies of wealthy people who were faithful to God.  In the Old Testament we have Abraham, Joseph, and King David as leading examples.  In the New Testament we have Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and Lydia (the woman whom Paul meets in Philippi) as examples.  What Jesus says, though, is that it is with difficulty.  The Lord already knows how many internal distractions that we have to keep us from God.  The last thing any of us need is a possible external temptation like wealth and the pursuit of it or the pursuit of keeping it!  Paul himself reminds Timothy twice in 1 Timothy about the perils of the love of money.  See 1 Timothy 3:3 and 6:10.  The author of Hebrews – whom many think is Paul – reminds us to keep ourselves free from the love of money.  See Hebrews 13:5.  What Jesus is really saying in this opening passage is that money is a difficult thing to have and not love having.  It may be one of the toughest things in the world to have and not love having.

Why is it easy for human beings to love money (or love having it)?  Why is it easy for human beings to become addicted to having money?

Second Thought:

The disciples are once more astounded by what Jesus is saying.  Again we see the typical human mindset.  After all, isn’t it our default position in life to think that those who have all the money that they need are blessed?  Don’t we typically assume that they are living the high life?  Don’t we assume that God shines upon them?  This is the age old assumption of humanity that we meet even all the way back in Job.  Human beings – myself included – have a default notion that those who have lots of resources are beloved and blessed by God.  So it makes sense that the disciples should be astounded when they hear Jesus say that such people will have difficulty entering into the kingdom of God.  We assume that they are blessed.  Jesus says that they will have their own unique set of spiritual troubles.  Once more we hear Jesus countering typical human logic.

Do you ever think that those who have it all are blessed?  Do you ever wish that you had all the money you need?  According to Jesus’ words here, when you feel this way what are you actually wishing upon yourself?  Why is this an astounding thought?

Third Thought:

I love Jesus’ reply to the disciples.  The neatness of this response is really seen if we gaze deeply into the Greek.  The disciples don’t really ask, “Who can be saved?”  They really ask, “Who is powerful enough to be saved?”  The verb there is dynamai (δύναμαι), which is the root word for our English words dynamite, dynamic, or dynamo.  This is a word that describes power, especially an unexpected or sudden or explosive power. The disciples are speaking through their astounded state and saying, “If the wealthy aren’t powerful enough to be saved, who is?”  And this is why the teaching of Jesus is brilliant.  Jesus turns on their equation and gives them absolute truth.  In mankind, nobody is powerful enough to be saved.  Only God is powerful enough to save a human being.  That is such an incredibly deep and profound teaching – so much more powerful than simply saying, “with God all things are possible.”

Why is it profound to hear Jesus teaching the disciples that mankind is not powerful enough to save themselves?  Why is it profound to recognize that all people in every circumstance can only be saved when we turn to God?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 19:28-30

Matthew 19:16-22

Matthew 19:16-22

And behold!  After one drew near to Him he said, “Teacher, what good should I do in order that I should have life eternal?”  And He said to him, “Why do you ask me about the good thing?  One is good.  And if you desire to enter into life, keep the commandments.”  He said to Him, “Which?”  And Jesus said, “You will not murder, you will not commit adultery, you will not steal, you will not bear false witness, honor the father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.”  The young man says to Him, “I obediently observed all these.  What yet do I lack?”  Jesus was saying to Him, “If you desire to be perfect, go away.  Sell the things that belong to you and give to the poor.  And you will have treasure in heaven.  And come follow me.”  And after the young man heard the words, he went away while being sad.  For he was having many acquisitions.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In the middle of this passage, Jesus makes a very humbling statement.  The young man asks Jesus about goodness, and Jesus is quick to correct Him.  In other Gospel stories, the young man calls Jesus good, but in this story the young man merely asks about good things.  Jesus’ response is still the same, though.  Jesus reminds the young man that there is only one who is good: the Father.  God is good alone.  If we take this thought seriously, it exposes serious problems in our world.  How often do we hear people around us talking about each other as “good people!”  Yet what does Jesus teach here?  Jesus deflects the characteristic of good even away from Himself!  We are not good people.  We are sinners in need of God.  Only God is good.  Only one is good: the Father.  

What does it really mean to believe that only one is good?  Do you truly believe this teaching of Christ?

For an Old Testament parallel to this teaching, see Psalm 14.

Second Thought:

Ultimately, I think that this is one of the more sad stories in the New Testament.  Here is a young man who genuinely seemed willing to listen – or at least inquire.  Even if he came to justify himself, he certainly wasn’t coming to entrap Jesus like the Pharisees or Sadducees.  The reason that it is sad is because here we see that a willing and inquiring heart comes to Jesus and goes away sad.  He makes the wrong decision.  He cannot put aside his possessions for the sake of Christ.  He cannot give up what little he has in this life in order to receive the benefit of eternal life and all of God’s blessing that comes with it.

What do you have in your life that would cause you stress if God asked you to give it up?  Do you have anything that you absolutely would not be able to give up?  What do your answers here tell you about yourself?

Third Thought:

I find this young man troubling for deeper reasons than I state above.  Here is a man who is seeking eternal life.  He is genuinely interested in what Jesus is teaching.  In fact, by his own admission he is already trying to follow the Law out of obedience, even!  He seems to have everything going for him.  Yet, as I mention above, he doesn’t choose to follow God.  We can have all the external trappings of genuine faith.  We can seem obedient to God.  We can have genuine interest in His ways.  But in the end, if we aren’t following Him then we aren’t really His.  If He asks us to give something up and we refuse, then we really belong more to that which we won’t give up than we belong to Christ.  External interest and obedience can never cover for internal submission to Him.

Is Christ truly first in your life?  Where in your life do you proclaim obedience but in reality you aren’t quite as submissive as you present?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 19:23-30